UK Updates Rules, Travellers From The UAE To Now Present A Negative PCR Test

The new covid-19 strain in the United Kingdom (UK) has forced the country to impose a nation-wide lockdown till February. And to curb the spread of the new strain, several countries have banned flights to and from the UK. Now, the UK updates its entry rules for travellers entering England and Scotland. Soon travellers entering by air, land or sea in the country will have to present a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before entering the country. Read here to know more.

Also read: Japan Announces State Emergency As Covid Cases Surge In Tokyo

People Failing To Follow UK’s Updated Rules Will Have To Pay A Fine Of AED 2,496

As per the updated rules, people who fail to produce the covid-19 negative certificate will have to pay a hefty fine. The fine is set at £500 (AED2,496) and applies to any traveller, except a small few. Children under 11, crews and those who travelled from counties without available testing infrastructure, are exempted from this rule. In terms of the corridor agreement between the UAE and UK, not much has changed there; travellers will still not need quarantine on arrival, provided they haven’t been anywhere not on the corridor list in the previous two weeks. However, taking a test is now a mandate.

Also read: Canada Now Makes Negative Covid-19 Report A Mandate For International Travellers

International Travel For Vacations Is Not Allowed In The UK

London’s Heathrow Airport chief executive, John Holland-Kaye welcomed the new testing rules, telling Sky News,

“We have long called for pre-departure testing as an alternative to quarantine. t is much better that we know before people get to the UK that they don’t have COVID, they can travel by more confidence on the plane knowing that all the other passengers don’t have COVID, and that way we can keep our borders secure.”

Also read Etihad Airways Updates Travel Rules For UK Passengers, Here’s Everything You Need To Know

For the UK, the country is experiencing its third lockdown since March 2019, putting more than 50 million in lockdown again. The nation has closed its schools and public areas and international travel for vacations is not allowed.